The southern problem: How AAP is readying for national polls

New Delhi: After its victory in the Delhi elections, the Aam Aadmi Party is taking its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections very seriously and as part of its unique approach to Indian politics, has called for ordinary people from across the country to fill up forms and apply if they want to be Lok Sabha candidates.

The party has also announced a national drive from 10 to 26 January to get new members.

A testament to its success in attracting candidates is the kind of rush one can witness at the party's main office in Hanuman Lane, near Connaught Place in central Delhi.

At any given point in time, there are close to 100 people waiting to get into the top floor office, where most of the key meetings take place. Business cards are handed out, many of those waiting are angry that someone else has been let in even as they wait, others are prepared to wait for hours just to get a chance to talk with a party leader.

The AAP headquarters in Delhi. Sandip Roy/ Firstpost

Many of those at the AAP headquarters hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. All have their own individual campaign plans but a common agenda: contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on a AAP ticket.

"Every day two hundred to three hundred people are coming here. It's all about Lok Sabha elections for them," a party worker told Firstpost. The rush isn't seen slowing down any time soon.

The man most of the prospective candidates want to meet is Pankaj Gupta, the leader who is handling the national election strategy for the AAP.

AAP has already begun to carry out extensive work in the key north India states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana. It has Kumar Vishwas taking on Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi seat and Yogendra Yadav heading the party's campaign in Haryana.

But in south India, in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, the AAP wave isn't as strong as the party would like just yet.

"The pace is a bit slower in the southern states. Yes, the impact is not as strong as it is in the northern states but, we are trying," Gupta told Firstpost.

However, he said it doesn't mean that the AAP doesn't have a plan for the states.

"Membership drives are going on extensively in Karnataka, in Chennai and even in Kerala. In Thrissur we are trying to get a mass membership drive of around 200,000 people done, but again we'll have to wait and watch to see how it actually works out," he said.

The lack of a visible presence in south India is a slightly worrying sign. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu account for a total of 81 seats, with 42 in Andhra and 39 in Tamil Nadu. Add Kerala's 20 seats to this and you have 101 seats, a fairly large number, where the AAP is still uncertain of its presence.

For a party that's hoping to emerge as the third national political force in the country, and perhaps even upset BJP candidate Narendra Modi's prime ministerial campaign, the lack of clarity on over a 100 seats is something the party will hope to address quickly enough.

 

For now, Gupta said he has been meeting people from these states who are interested in working for the party.

Presently the AAP is targetting individual districts and is trying to build a presence in nearly all every states.

"We want to have maximum presence in almost all the states. We are trying to ensure that we can have a presence in more than 50 percent of the districts in a particular state. If we do manage that, then we set up a state team to coordinate with the district teams," Gupta said.

The party is also very clear that unlike its other national peers it has no plan to maintain a central control structure after it expands across the country.

"We believe in decentralisation as a party. In ten states we have state teams ready. We're also holding state meetings with our local representatives in these places to encourage and motivate them, give them support," Gupta said.

However, Gupta isn't keen on revealing how many seats the party plans to contest in the elections and denied reports that say they party will be in the fray for between 100 to 200 seats.

"The total number of seats we contest from, will only be decided once we have shortlisted all the candidates. Of course, which seat we contest on will also depend on whether we have a particular strength in the Lok Sabha seat itself. Factors like winning ability, local supports, etc will be taken into account before we declare ourselves as candidates from any seat," he said.

Despite the elections being around five months away and the party just beginning to look for candidates, the response following the party's victory in Delhi leaves little doubt about their popularity among prospective candidates. Whether it will be able to replicate its magic beyond the confines of the national capital remains to be seen.

The southern problem: How the AAP is readying for national elections

New Delhi: After its victory in the Delhi elections, the Aam Aadmi Party is taking its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections very seriously and as part of its unique approach to Indian politics, has called for ordinary people from across the country to fill up forms and apply if they want to be Lok Sabha candidates.

The party has also announced a national drive from 10 to 26 January to get new members.

A testament to its success in attracting candidates is the kind of rush one can witness at the party's main office in Hanuman Lane, near Connaught Place in central Delhi.

At any given point in time, there are close to 100 people waiting to get into the top floor office, where most of the key meetings take place. Business cards are handed out, many of those waiting are angry that someone else has been let in even as they wait, others are prepared to wait for hours just to get a chance to talk with a party leader.

The AAP headquarters in Delhi. Sandip Roy/ Firstpost

Many of those at the AAP headquarters hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. All have their own individual campaign plans but a common agenda: contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on a AAP ticket.

"Every day two hundred to three hundred people are coming here. It's all about Lok Sabha elections for them," a party worker told Firstpost. The rush isn't seen slowing down any time soon.

The man most of the prospective candidates want to meet is Pankaj Gupta, the leader who is handling the national election strategy for the AAP.

AAP has already begun to carry out extensive work in the key north India states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana. It has Kumar Vishwas taking on Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi seat and Yogendra Yadav heading the party's campaign in Haryana.

But in south India, in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, the AAP wave isn't as strong as the party would like just yet.

"The pace is a bit slower in the southern states. Yes, the impact is not as strong as it is in the northern states but, we are trying," Gupta told Firstpost.

However, he said it doesn't mean that the AAP doesn't have a plan for the states.

"Membership drives are going on extensively in Karnataka, in Chennai and even in Kerala. In Thrissur we are trying to get a mass membership drive of around 200,000 people done, but again we'll have to wait and watch to see how it actually works out," he said.

The lack of a visible presence in south India is a slightly worrying sign. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu account for a total of 81 seats, with 42 in Andhra and 39 in Tamil Nadu. Add Kerala's 20 seats to this and you have 101 seats, a fairly large number, where the AAP is still uncertain of its presence.

For a party that's hoping to emerge as the third national political force in the country, and perhaps even upset BJP candidate Narendra Modi's prime ministerial campaign, the lack of clarity on over a 100 seats is something the party will hope to address quickly enough.

 

For now, Gupta said he has been meeting people from these states who are interested in working for the party.

Presently the AAP is targetting individual districts and is trying to build a presence in nearly all every states.

"We want to have maximum presence in almost all the states. We are trying to ensure that we can have a presence in more than 50 percent of the districts in a particular state. If we do manage that, then we set up a state team to coordinate with the district teams," Gupta said.

The party is also very clear that unlike its other national peers it has no plan to maintain a central control structure after it expands across the country.

"We believe in decentralisation as a party. In ten states we have state teams ready. We're also holding state meetings with our local representatives in these places to encourage and motivate them, give them support," Gupta said.

However, Gupta isn't keen on revealing how many seats the party plans to contest in the elections and denied reports that say they party will be in the fray for between 100 to 200 seats.

"The total number of seats we contest from, will only be decided once we have shortlisted all the candidates. Of course, which seat we contest on will also depend on whether we have a particular strength in the Lok Sabha seat itself. Factors like winning ability, local supports, etc will be taken into account before we declare ourselves as candidates from any seat," he said.

Despite the elections being around five months away and the party just beginning to look for candidates, the response following the party's victory in Delhi leaves little doubt about their popularity among prospective candidates. Whether it will be able to replicate its magic beyond the confines of the national capital remains to be seen.

Come out with truth on LeT operatives’ meeting: BJP tells Delhi police

New Delhi: The BJP today asked Delhi Police to come out with the truth soon on the meeting of suspected LeT operatives with persons in Muzaffarnagar and accused the Centre and UP government of playing politics by giving communal colour to a national security issue.

The opposition party said though the issue is very serious as it concerns national security and communal harmony, there has been a continuous effort of playing politics on the issue.

Representational image. AFP

"We have only received partial information on the issue. Because this is an issue connected with national security and communal harmony, we expect Delhi Police will investigate all aspects of the issue and present the truth before the public. The Uttar Pradesh Police should also reveal what information it has on the issue," BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Terming it as "very serious", he attacked the Congress-led central government and the SP government in UP for giving "communal colour" to the issue.

"There has been a continuous effort to play politics on the issue in one form or the other and an attempt is being made to give a communal colour to it," he said.

Trivedi attacked the Home Ministry for coming out with a list of victims of Muzaffarnagar violence on the basis of religion.

"It clearly shows how central and state governments are trying to do religion-based politics on the issue. When such politics is played, it gives rise to separatist forces to create instability in the country," the BJP spokesman said.

When pointed out that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said a few days ago that Pakistan's ISI was trying to approach disgruntled victims of Muzaffarnagar communal riots, the BJP leader was cautious and merely said the Delhi police should complete the investigations as early as possible and come out with the truth.

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had earlier hit out at Rahul, saying he should apologise for making such remarks against Muslilm youths.

PTI

Priyanka Gandhi ‘turning active’ won’t help Congress in polls: BJP

New Delhi: BJP on Tuesday said Priyanka Gandhi "turning active" in politics is an internal matter of Congress but it will not improve the party's poll prospects.

Priyanka Gandhi. PTI

"This is an internal matter of the Congress. As far as BJP is concerned our leadership is very clear and our aim is to get a majority in 2014 polls.... Going by the performance of the party, I don't think there is going to be any difference in the Congress poll prospects," BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters.

He was asked about Priyanka Gandhi attending a meeting of Congress leader today at Rahul Gandhi's residence and whether her "turning active" in politics will affect the party's prospects.

Trivedi said the people have seen what all has happened under UPA rule, and the assembly election results were just one indicator of their anger. "The rest will be evident in the Lok Sabha elections," he said.

Asked about reports of Rahul Gandhi having hired a foreign agency for an image makeover, BJP said it has no such information.

Queried if Congress has accepted the "failure" of Rahul Gandhi and is now trying to bring in Priyanka Gandhi, Trivedi said, "Congress has been destablised after the results of assembly elections. We will react when they have a stable mindset".

Priyanka Gandhi was present at a meeting of senior leaders held at the residence of Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to be made party's PM candidate for the next Lok Sabha polls just four months away.

While Congress officially sought to play down Priyanka's presence in the meeting, the development has created flutters as it gave indications of her playing a more significant role in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

PTI

Claims of LeT in Muzaffarnagar only to prove Rahul right, says Azam Khan

Rampur: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan on Tuesday discounted Delhi Police's claim that LeT operatives had contacted residents of Muzaffarnagar, saying this could have been done just to prove "true" Rahul Gandhi's claim in this regard.

"It is likely that all this has been done to prove Yuvraj's (Rahul) claims true... or maybe it has really happened," Khan told reporters in Rampur.

SP leader Azam Khan. IBNLive

"This had to happen. It was evident the day he (Rahul) said it. Rahul seemed to have received information about it before anyone else. He even said that he had been informed about it.

"So, either he should divulge his sources or he should be asked how he came to know about it," the UP Minister said.

Delhi Police today said two suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives had met two persons in Muzaffarnagar region, three months after Rahul Gandhi had stoked a controversy claiming that Pakistan's ISI had approached disgruntled victims of the communal riots.

The Minister also said he had received seven notices from the Supreme Court in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots.

"I may be sent to gallows or sentenced for life as I have received seven notices from the Supreme Court related to Muzaffarnagar riots," he said, on the charges against him in the wake of a sting operation in which his name had reportedly figured in connection with the riots.

Khan was addressing a gathering after handing over laptops to about 500 students in the campus of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.

He said, "forces committing atrocities have knocked on the doors of the courts. Neither have I visited Muzaffarnagar, nor have I recommended to set anybody free, even then, numerous accusations have been slapped against me.

"I am not worried. I will face the entire lot of accusations as I have full faith in the judiciary," he said.

PTI

AAP loses potential ally in Maharashtra, Raju Shetty joins BJP-Sena

Mumbai: The plans of the Shiv Sena-BJP-led opposition alliance to rope in smaller political groups to take on the ruling Congress-NCP combine in the forthcoming polls got a boost today with the Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by Lok Sabha member Raju Shetty, joining the fold.

The development is also considered a setback for the plans of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had been reportedly toying with using the Shetty-led organisation's clout in rural areas of the state, specially in western Maharashtra.

Reacting to Shetty's decision, AAP leader Mayank Gandhi said, "Shetty was apparently pressurising the Sena-BJP-RPI alliance by indicating that he was in parleys with us. We do not subscribe to such tactics."

The Sanghatana's decision came after a meeting between the MP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, BJP leader Gopinath Munde and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, at Uddhav's residence in suburban Bandra today.

Representational image. Reuters

Reacting to the development, Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raghunath Patil said, "Shetty is not a farmers' leader. He became Lok Sabha member by coincidence."

It is not clear how many seats Shetty's organisation would be allocated in the "Mahayuti" (grand alliance) comprising Sena, BJP and RPI (A). In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Sena had contested 26 seats and BJP 22 of total 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

However, this time around, RPI and Shetty's outfit will also be in the fray from some seats, as part of the grand opposition alliance.

PTI

Muzaffarnagar LeT claims only to prove Rahul right, says Azam Khan

Rampur: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan on Tuesday discounted Delhi Police's claim that LeT operatives had contacted residents of Muzaffarnagar, saying this could have been done just to prove "true" Rahul Gandhi's claim in this regard.

"It is likely that all this has been done to prove Yuvraj's (Rahul) claims true... or maybe it has really happened," Khan told reporters in Rampur.

SP leader Azam Khan. IBNLive

"This had to happen. It was evident the day he (Rahul) said it. Rahul seemed to have received information about it before anyone else. He even said that he had been informed about it.

"So, either he should divulge his sources or he should be asked how he came to know about it," the UP Minister said.

Delhi Police today said two suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives had met two persons in Muzaffarnagar region, three months after Rahul Gandhi had stoked a controversy claiming that Pakistan's ISI had approached disgruntled victims of the communal riots.

The Minister also said he had received seven notices from the Supreme Court in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots.

"I may be sent to gallows or sentenced for life as I have received seven notices from the Supreme Court related to Muzaffarnagar riots," he said, on the charges against him in the wake of a sting operation in which his name had reportedly figured in connection with the riots.

Khan was addressing a gathering after handing over laptops to about 500 students in the campus of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.

He said, "forces committing atrocities have knocked on the doors of the courts. Neither have I visited Muzaffarnagar, nor have I recommended to set anybody free, even then, numerous accusations have been slapped against me.

"I am not worried. I will face the entire lot of accusations as I have full faith in the judiciary," he said.

PTI

Modi shouldn’t talk on subjects he knows nothing about: Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday took potshots at Narendra Modi over his remarks on reforming taxation system, saying all countries of the world have income tax and the BJP leader was adding economics to the list of subjects he knows nothing about.

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh also mocked the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for listening to people like yoga guru Ramdev, who had demanded abolition of all kinds of taxes and pitched for a single 'Banking Transaction Tax' if Modi forms the next government.

"So far Mr Modi has shown lack of knowledge of geography and history and if he is going to listen to Swami Ramdev, ... all the people of economics... what can I say...? Mr Modi is now adding economics to the list of subjects he knows nothing about. First it was geography, history and now it is economics," Ramesh said.

The Rural Development was reacting to a question on Modi advocating tax reforms at an event organised by Ramdev on Sunday.

Promising reform in the taxation system in the country, Modi had said that the present system had become a burden on the common man.

Ramesh pointed out that the 1957 budget presented by then Finance Minister T T Krishnamachary had an expenditure tax and it was abandoned very soon.

"Then the idea was discussed in 1980s... because (former Union Minister and Congress leader) Vasant Sathe was its greatest champion. L K Jha committee was set up and they rejected the idea.

"When Manmohan Singh was the Finance Minister (in Narasimha Rao government), again Sathe pedelled the idea. Then Dr Raja Chelliah examined. This has been well examined. All countries of the world have income tax," the Minister said criticising Modi's statement.

He also alleged that Modi's aim was "to help the rich and a few people" in the country.

The Congress strategist's statement came at a time when BJP has been talking about abolition of taxes. Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari had last month said that he was contemplating incorporating a proposal to abolish income, sales and excise taxes in the vision document of his party.

PTI

EC initiates inquiry on allegations of Virbhadra not declaring assets

Shimla: The Election Commission has initiated an inquiry against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and wife for allegedly not declaring all assets while contesting elections.

Responding to a complaint filed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, the Election Commission of India sought from the state Chief Electoral Officer, details about the assets of Virbhadra Singh and wife Pratibha Singh shown in the affidavit and the assets, alleged to have been concealed.

Virbhadra Singh. AFP

Confirming the development CEO Narinder Chauhan said the voluminous documents have been sent by post and he was yet to receive the documents, and added that no timeframe has been fixed for sending the reply.

Thakur, who is the son of former Himachal chief minister PK Dhumal, had alleged in his complaint that Virbhadra and Pratibha had not declared full payments or shares in their election affidavits, and sought action against them.

While Virbhadra filed his nominations and affidavit on 17 October, 2012, for the assembly elections, which Congress won, Pratibha filed her papers for by-elections to Mandi parliamentary constituency on 30 May last year.

While Pratibha's term would expire on June 1 this year along with the current Lok Sabha, Virbhadra's term would go on till December 2017 when the term of the current Himachal assembly comes to an end.

Opposition BJP has been demanding the Chief Minister's resignation over alleged corruption by a power company which had paid the CM and his wife Rs 3.5 crore.

PTI

AAP lessons: Ministries may have to conduct referendums

New Delhi: Apparently taking a leaf out of Aam Aadmi Party's strategy, the government is mulling a proposal to make it mandatory for Union Ministries to elicit public opinion before framing legislations.

To take the proposal forward, the Cabinet Secretariat may convene a meeting of Secretaries of the various ministries and departments before a final call is taken on it.

"The proposal requires all central ministries to elicit public views on legislations they want to frame. However, no final view has been firmed up so far," a senior government functionary told PTI here.

Reuters

This has been the main strategy of the AAP and it has employed it successfully, which was reflected in its stunning performance in the recent Delhi Assembly polls.

If the proposal is accepted, then instructions of the Cabinet secretariat and Parliamentary procedures relating to drafting of legislations will be amended to make it necessary for ministries to get views of the public before sending the proposal to Cabinet.

The ministries can seek the views of the common people, institutions and NGOs by either putting a draft bill in public domain or bringing out a concept paper regarding the legislation.

The respective ministries may also be asked to cite the views accepted in finalising the draft legislation and reasons thereof.

However, in cases of emergency, the ministries will be free to approach the Cabinet without getting the public opinion.

Recently, the Women and Child Development Ministry and the Sports Ministry had put up draft legislations on their website to get views of the public.

"The process will not mean a big delay in enacting laws. It will make the process more transparent...when Parliamentary Standing Committees seek public opinion on bills, it is done at a stage where the bill has already been introduced in Parliament. If this proposal is finalised, then public views will be part of the bill," an official explained.

The Aam Aadmi Party has been advocating the cause of public participation in framing laws.

PTI

Working class support eroded, CPM has much to learn from AAP

How exactly does one understand CPM general secretary Prakash Karat discovering his party's resonance in the new age phenomenon of AAP?

An honest appreciation of the emergence of a working class party that the CPM claims it has always been? A third front possibility that the CPM can latch on to without letting go of the non-Congress, non-BJP substitutes? Or a party whose reflected glory the CPM can appropriate to shore up its image?

Probably, all the three and more. But how close is the CPM to the real truth?

Prakash Karat. PTI.

In an interview with The Economic Times on Tuesday, Karat says that most of what the AAP is doing, sans a stated ideology, is in fact similar to what the CPM is committed to - the constituency of the working class, austerity and the fight against corruption. However, to substantiate his points, he doesn't get into serious details other than the routine exposition of his party line.

Contrary to what the CPM claims, AAP is a completely different entity - from its genesis and the evolution so far - in terms of its ideology, constituency and even ethic. The AAP is a home grown alternative to the country's established political culture, and not a monolithic, top-down adaptation of an imported ideology.

The AAP is avowedly bottom-up and has begun to demonstrate its commitment to decentralisation while the CPM's organisational methodology is democratic centralism, which in practice is not "freedom of discussion and unity of action", but the absolute control of a powerful elite. The axing and departure of several prominent leaders of the party over the last several years is an unmissable evidence of the lack of freedom of discussion, let alone democracy, within the CPM.

In terms of the constituency, Karat appreciates how the AAP has got the middle class on its side; but what he conveniently forgets in his compliments is that the AAP's core strength - as the Delhi results demonstrated - is not just the middle class, but the working class too. Not only did the CPM fail to gain some traction with the working class in Delhi, but it has also begun to alienate them in its strongholds such as Kerala and West Bengal.

The CPM's disastrous rout in West Bengal and the never-ending charges of wheeling-dealing by its top leaders in Kerala deflate Karat's claims of a working-class constituency and his ideological high ground against neo-liberalism. West Bengal, which the party ruled for three decades, is sitting on a massive debt and is one of the biggest sources of distress labour migration. The party is also both a source and target of mindless violence. Its historic debacle could't have happened without the massive erosion of its support base.

In Kerala, the party is besieged by allegations of capital accumulation, corruption, violence and wheeling-dealing that don't befit its claims of working class ideology or commitment. That it has lost its exaggerated revolutionary oomph was evident in the serial failures of the agitations it undertook against the present UDF government.

Some of them, such as the blockade of the government secretariat and the chief minister's residence, were unprecedented. That the party couldn't win the trust of the people or sustain the firepower to attack a minority government that is plagued by numerous scandals exposed the CPM's loss of character and moral strength. More over, that the party has no agenda for the three million plus outstation migrants in the state also exposes its double standards. Obviously, it has no gain from a community without franchise. Does language matter in the party's commitment to class struggle?

Meanwhile, the party leadership in Kerala itself is facing charges of corruption, unethical deals and organised violence. Karat is either unaware of, or closes his eyes to, the bizarre defence that the top leaders of the party put up against these charges. Often, their standard line of defence is that their deals are no different from that of the others.

Although Karat's words clearly do not match his party's deeds, this is an occasion to learn from the AAP. Unlearning the past and demolishing the political-industrial complex and the rings of violent cadres that the party leaders have built in the field are difficult, but Karat's leadership can take a few baby steps to reclaim its role in working class politics - open its account books to people and stop its obsession with capital accumulation. India certainly needs the Left, but the CPM cannot lay claim over it by force, deceit and shady capital.

What Karat and the CPM should realise is that AAP has emerged as an alternative, not a substitute. The parties that the AAP seeks to substitute will include the CPM as well.

Gujarat riots: Jaitley seeks to bury charges against Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Seeking to bury charges against Narendra Modi, BJP today said "falsehoods" about the Godhra train fire, the Gujarat chief minister's reported remarks that 2002 riots were a reaction to it and his alleged orders to let Hindus vent their anger have been "exposed and rejected".

In his latest blog posting on his website, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley reasoned how the "sustained campaign (conspiracy)" against Modi on the post-Godhra riots "has collapsed as it was based on falsehoods".

Arun Jaitley. AFP

He rubbished the Justice U C Banerjee Commission's report that said the fire in S-6 bogey of Sabarmati Express could have started from inside and no mob had burnt the coach.

"It was clear from day one that a misguided mob at the Godhra Railway station, of members belonging to one community had set the Sabarmati Express compartment No. S-6 on fire," Jaitley said, adding the Supreme Court-appointed SIT, which probed the incident, found that fuel for setting the coach on fire was brought in vehicles to the station a day before.

"The motivation of this false campaign was to establish that the Hindu community had set the compartment on fire so that the provocation could lead to riots in Gujarat," he said.

The BJP leader claimed that a statement attributed to Modi- in which he said that the riots were a reaction to the Godhra train burning- was "false".

"The said interview quoted Modi as saying that every action has a reaction and therefore the post-Godhra violence was justified as a reaction. Narendra Modi maintained that he had not given any such interview," Jaitley said.

He regretted that the newspaper carried a clarification only 20 days later and even then did not publish it prominently.

The eminent lawyer also denies the claims of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt that a meeting of seniormost police and administration officials took place at Modi's residence in which the Chief Minister reportedly said Hindus should be allowed to vent their anger.

"The SIT concluded that Sanjeev Bhat was not present in the meeting and no such statement was made by the Chief Minister. It further concluded that contemporaneous statement of the Chief Minister were absolutely contrary to what was being alleged. The magisterial court has endorsed that view of the SIT," Jaitley said.

PTI

No, the AAP story isn’t a ‘triumph’ of India’s middle class

At a time when Westminster-style democracy is facing an existential crisis in its own backyard with more and more people, especially the middle class, opting out of mainstream politics in England, the apparent resurgence of political activism in India symbolised by the Aam Aadmi Party's plucky political debut is surely significant.

But sceptics with slightly longer memories of the Indian political scene than the television soundbite era allows may be forgiven for taking some of the post-AAP claims with a pinch of salt. To my mind, the most extraordinary of these is crediting the urban middle class with the "flowering" and "coming-of-age" of Indian democracy supposedly represented by AAP.

The fact is that the middle class is part of the problem because of which Indian politics reached such a pass that we needed a brand new party to re-energise it. The real heroes, on the other hand, are the millions of working class Indians who have kept the show going for 60 years by religiously turning up to vote at every election seeking change through the ballot box when the middle class, feigning 'alienation' stayed home.

AFP

It is a universal middle class trait to portray itself as an agent of progressive change, though in reality it is instinctively status-quoist, pushing for reform only when it suits its own interests.

In Britain, middle class "disengagement" from politics is this season's biggest story after some of the country's most high-profile middle class public figures, including the celebrity comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand, proudly confessed to not voting in elections because they find the choices "unappetising".

It has echoes of the Indian middle class's political behaviour historically marked by large-scale absenteeism at elections and an aversion to "dirtying" its hands. The middle class is also reluctant to rock the boat or push for any political or economic change whose consequences are not predictable. The comatose state of the Indian Left is an enduring illustration of the middle class voters' risk-averse approach.

So, the post-AAP wave of self-congratulation (metaphorical hi-fives, and "we-did-it") sweeping the middle class redoubts sits oddly with its role in propping up a reactionary political culture. There is only one issue on which the middle class has ever taken a stand: price rise.

That's the one safe platform on which any political party can hope to win enough middle class votes any day. Indira Gandhi famously bounced back into power in 1980 in what came to be known as "onion elections" fought on the agenda of containing the runaway rise in the price of onion. Again, in 1998, the Bharatiya Janata Party lost the Delhi elections to the Congress on the issue of onion prices.

So long as the middle class is assured of a decent wage, cheap onions, a semblance of social mobility and not-too-much corruption it is happy to keep its head down without worrying too much about larger issues such as the nature of polity or future of democracy. It is only when the normal rhythm of its daily life is threatened that it is jolted into action; and there is a scramble to jump on to the nearest passing bandwagon offering change.

At the risk of being a party-pooper, I would suggest that Delhi's middle class plumped for AAP not to revolutionise politics, but because the party's agenda happened to resonate with its own immediate concerns around corruption, price rise and transparency. Besides, some see AAP as a vehicle to launch their own political careers.

It is true that today the Indian middle class is much larger and more aspirational. Perhaps even more angry than before.

But whether it has finally decided to use its deep anger to change the face of Indian politics, as being claimed, remains debatable. There have been similar flashes in the pan before-- only for the middle class to revert to its default comfort zone after the event.

Jayaprakash Narayan's call for "Total Revolution" in 1974 against corruption, rising prices and social injustice brought large sections of the middle class –students, teachers, journalists, lawyers, rights activists—on to the streets in what remains perhaps the biggest show of people's power in independent India. In 1977, the middle class turned out to vote with its feet against Indira Gandhi to punish her for imposing the emergency.

That was the last time we saw middle class political activism on a notable scale—until Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign which then morphed into AAP.

It is being said that the younger generation of middle class professionals -- AAP 's backbone-- is different and genuinely yearning for change. Well, we shall see but, meanwhile, the breathless celebration of middle class political activism has a whiff of the way fickle-minded cricket fans react when Team-India pulls off a shock victory after a long lean season.

Barely weeks ago, the mood was so gloomy that it seemed Indian politics could go only one way—downhill. Suddenly, we are led to believe that India is on the cusp of a new dawn because a group of street fighters has won a local election in one corner of the country.

As I pointed out in these columns recently, the European experience of what has come to be known as the phenomenon of the political "lone-ranger" tells us not to get too excited. The public anger over the global economic crisis spawned nearly a dozen AAP-style parties across Europe, all making spectacular debuts only to end up as just one more mainstream entity.

Guess who their core supporters were?

Why Jayalalithaa’s PM ambitions are not as far fetched as you think

Is Amma set to be our next Prime Minister?

In Chennai, the 'Jaya for PM' posters are out in full force, but outside Tamil Nadu, these ambitions have been at best, discussed academically as a not impossible yet highly unlikely outcome. It has been perceived that too many political planets would have to align for this to become a reality.

Political commentators and analysts have so far outlined two likely scenarios in which the Tamil Nadu Chief Minster could take over the country's top job.

Jayalalithaa to take Delhi by storm? PTI

The first is that she emerges as a strong consensus candidate in the event that the BJP becomes the single largest party, but doesn't have enough seats to form the government. If the BJP is forced to depend on regional parties who don't want to see Modi as the Prime Minister, Jayalalithaa could well be seen as an acceptable candidate for the post.

The second situation in which she could potentially be Prime Minister, is in the event she throws her weight behind the 'third front' that is being mooted by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav along with West Bengal and Odisha Chief Ministers, Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik.

However, the third front is largely being seen as Mulayam's 'I want to be the PM' party. It is quite unlikely that he would be willing to step aside for Jayalalithaa's prime ministerial ambitions merely in the interest of seeing a 'non Congress, non BJP' government at the centre.

Both scenarios require far too many factors falling into place at the same time, which is why Jayalalithaa has not been seen as a real contender in the race.

But according to this column by Praveen Chakravarty in the Business Standard, the poll mathematics are actually tilted quite favourably towards the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

He points out that given Tamil Nadu's voting history (which almost always gives one party a clean sweep of all its 39 seats) and the multi-cornered contests in bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, which could see seat share split among two or more parties, the numbers could actually add up in favour of Jayalalithaa.

Chakravarty notes that Tamil Nadu along with Andhra Pradesh, has traditionally delivered more seats to its winning parties than states with larger voting populations, like Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra. In a best case scenario, the state has given its winner all 39 seats, which is still 4 seats more than the highest ever number of seats won by a single party from Uttar Pradesh.

"With a potential split in Andhra Pradesh looming and a muddling of coalitions in the state since the 2009 elections, it is reasonable to expect, based on historical patterns, that the winner in TN will secure the maximum number of seats in any given state in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections", he adds.

Jayalalithaa being an astute veteran has probably already realised this. Which is probably why the pitch for the 'Tamil Nadu's first prime minister' is getting shriller and louder. Her party, the AIADMK has already made it clear that they will not ally with the BJP, although as noted by Firstpost editor G Pramod Kumar, in real terms, this means some space for the Left and the minorities. He says:

The alliance arithmetic makes it very clear that the AIDMK will not go it alone as was originally announced. Going by the 2011 elections, the party is far stronger than the DMK on its own. However, the allies of the DMK will make up for the shortfall. Therefore, Jayalalithaa will certainly need at least the Left with her - the CPM and CPM together have about five per cent voteshare.

The party also has history on its side. It has an average voteshare percentage (based on the last four general elections - 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha, and 2006 and 2011 assembly elections) of 30 plus compared to DMK's 24 plus. During the last ten years, the AIADMK always scored higher than the DMK, except in 2009. (Read more)

On the ground in Tamil Nadu meanwhile, the fervour is going into overdrive.

The AIADMK has said it has received over 1,000 applications from its workers urging that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa contest from their constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. And Jayalalithaa herself has not been holding back.

On Saturday, the Chief Minister told a crowd of people gathered for a pongal function, that she was confident that a change would happen at the Centre so that she could deliver more for the people of her state.

"If they have to be implemented, changes should happen at the (all) India level. With your unflinching support, I am confident that that change will happen," she said.

Narendra Modi may have to watch out. The biggest spoil sport at his PM party could well be his 'dear friend' Jayalalithaa.

Shatrughan Sinha says Rahul Gandhi is no match for Modi’s popularity

Patna: Senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha today said Rahul Gandhi was no match to the popularity of Narendra Modi and mocked at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for saying Modi will be "disastrous" for the country.

"Rahul Gandhi is like a 'band mutthi' (closed fist) and is no match to Narendra Modi whose popularity is at the peak at this moment," Sinha, Patna Saheb MP, told PTI.

Shatrughan Sinha.

"Modi, who has scored hat-trick in a crucial state like Gujarat, has a proven track record of good governance and his popularity is at the peak at this moment which Rahul Gandhi or anybody else cannot match," the actor-turned-politician said.

He termed the Prime Minister's assertions that Rahul Gandhi has "outstanding credentials" for the top job as his "night dreaming" which could not be translated into reality. "Lets pray the night dreaming of the PM does not become a horror for the nation," he said.

On Singh's views that Modi as PM will be "disastrous" for the country, Sinha said it does not sound convincing from a person who has brought "disgrace" for the country occupying the top post for 10 years.

A Gujarat court recently gave clean chit to Modi in the 2002 riots case and "today he is an accepted and respected leader of the country," he added.

Sinha, who was here for a party review meeting over preparation for the coming general elections in his Patna Saheb seat, praised the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and wished his own party learnt some points from the debutante party, which has caught people's imagination for its honesty and transparency, in a true "sportsman spirit" AAP's zero to hero success story is an eye opener for many parties," Sinha, popularly known as the "Bihari Babu", said.

Hailing top leaders of the AAP including Arvind Kejriwal, he said the party should be given time to perform before passing judgement on their performance.

Sinha, who has on a number of occasions described veteran BJP leader LK Advani as his "mentor and guru", said the senior party leader would have a "crucial" role in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

"Advaniji is a father figure of the party and his role will always be crucial in ensuring victory of the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections," Sinha, who served as Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, said.

Sinha exuded confidence that BJP would perform well in Bihar in the coming Parliamentary polls.

He said BJP has always fought for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden and enjoys considerable support at the grassroot level in Bihar, which has 40 Lok Sabha seats.

PTI

Working class support eroded, why is CPM looking for reflected glory in AAP?

How exactly does one understand CPM general secretary Prakash Karat discovering his party's resonance in the new age phenomenon of AAP?

An honest appreciation of the emergence of a working class party that the CPM claims it has always been? A third front possibility that the CPM can latch on to without letting go of the non-Congress, non-BJP substitutes? Or a party whose reflected glory the CPM can appropriate to shore up its image?

Probably, all the three and more. But how close is the CPM to the real truth?

Prakash Karat. PTI.

In an interview with The Economic Times on Tuesday, Karat says that most of what the AAP is doing, sans a stated ideology, is in fact similar to what the CPM is committed to - the constituency of the working class, austerity and the fight against corruption. However, to substantiate his points, he doesn't get into serious details other than the routine exposition of his party line.

Contrary to what the CPM claims, AAP is a completely different entity - from its genesis and the evolution so far - in terms of its ideology, constituency and even ethic. The AAP is a home grown alternative to the country's established political culture, and not a monolithic, top-down adaptation of an imported ideology.

The AAP is avowedly bottom-up and has begun to demonstrate its commitment to decentralisation while the CPM's organisational methodology is democratic centralism, which in practice is not "freedom of discussion and unity of action", but the absolute control of a powerful elite. The axing and departure of several prominent leaders of the party over the last several years is an unmissable evidence of the lack of freedom of discussion, let alone democracy, within the CPM.

In terms of the constituency, Karat appreciates how the AAP has got the middle class on its side; but what he conveniently forgets in his compliments is that the AAP's core strength - as the Delhi results demonstrated - is not just the middle class, but the working class too. Not only did the CPM fail to gain some traction with the working class in Delhi, but it has also begun to alienate them in its strongholds such as Kerala and West Bengal.

The CPM's disastrous rout in West Bengal and the never-ending charges of wheeling-dealing by its top leaders in Kerala deflate Karat's claims of a working-class constituency and his ideological high ground against neo-liberalism. West Bengal, which the party ruled for three decades, is sitting on a massive debt and is one of the biggest sources of distress labour migration. The party is also both a source and target of mindless violence. Its historic debacle could't have happened without the massive erosion of its support base.

In Kerala, the party is besieged by allegations of capital accumulation, corruption, violence and wheeling-dealing that don't befit its claims of working class ideology or commitment. That it has lost its exaggerated revolutionary oomph was evident in the serial failures of the agitations it undertook against the present UDF government.

Some of them, such as the blockade of the government secretariat and the chief minister's residence, were unprecedented. That the party couldn't win the trust of the people or sustain the firepower to attack a minority government that is plagued by numerous scandals exposed the CPM's loss of character and moral strength. More over, that the party has no agenda for the three million plus outstation migrants in the state also exposes its double standards. Obviously, it has no gain from a community without franchise. Does language matter in the party's commitment to class struggle?

Meanwhile, the party leadership in Kerala itself is facing charges of corruption, unethical deals and organised violence. Karat is either unaware of, or closes his eyes to, the bizarre defence that the top leaders of the party put up against these charges. Often, their standard line of defence is that their deals are no different from that of the others.

Although Karat's words clearly do not match his party's deeds, this is an occasion to learn from the AAP. Unlearning the past and demolishing the political-industrial complex and the rings of violent cadres that the party leaders have built in the field are difficult, but Karat's leadership can take a few baby steps to reclaim its role in working class politics - open its account books to people and stop its obsession with capital accumulation. India certainly needs the Left, but the CPM cannot lay claim over it by force, deceit and shady capital.

What Karat and the CPM should realise is that AAP has emerged as an alternative, not a substitute. The parties that the AAP seeks to substitute will include the CPM as well.

Mamata visits 2004 famine-hit Amlasole village

Amlasole, West Bengal: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today visited West Midnapore district's Amlasole village, which had hit headlines in 2004 for starvation deaths during Left Front rule, and said no one will be allowed to die from hunger.

Recalling that she had first came the village when she was in the opposition in 2004 when the starvation deaths had taken place, Banerjee, who was the first chief minister in 10 years to visit, said this was the same place where people died due to starvation in 2004 during Left rule.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI

"I had come here then. Today I want to say that no one during our rule will starve," she told a rally here in West Midnapore district.

Banerjee noted that the Trinamool Congress government was providing rice at Rs 2 per kg to all BPL families and stressed that steps had been taken to create better infrastructure in the area.

"Apart from the rationing system, we have ensured better infrastructure for better connectivity. We have achieved a rare feat in ensuring near about 95 days work in the 100 days work scheme," said Banerjee.

Admitting that the area was remote, she said that it did not mean that it would be neglected.

"I will tell my officials and leaders to visit this place at regular intervals to ensure that development work takes place at a rapid pace.

"For ushering development, what you need most is a heart to work for the people," Banerjee said.

Without naming the Maoists, Banerjee said that along with developmental work it also needed to be seen that none tried to incite violence or bloodshed in the area.

Banerjee also urged villagers not to marry off their daughter before the age of 18 as her government had taken steps to ensure that girl children get education free till class XII.

She also noted that the area had potential for tourism and would ensure that proper infrastructure for it came up.

PTI

In Kerala, LDF MLAs continue protest against Western Ghats report

Thiruvananthapuram: Thirteen MLAs belonging to CPI-M led LDF Opposition in Kerala on Tuesday staged a sit-in in front of the Assembly complex demanding rejection of the "anti-farmer" recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghat conservation.

Western Ghats. Wikimedia image.

Earlier, LDF, which raised the issue in the assembly through an adjournment motion, alleged that both Centre and state government were indifferent and insensitive towards the feelings and apprehensions of the people living in hill regions over the "anti-farmer" recommendations in the report.

Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan assured the House that no one in the hill region would be evicted on account of the suggestions in the report, LDF members led by its leader VS Achuthanandan, not satisfied with the reply, walked out and announced the dharna of MLAs in front of the assembly premises.

Replying to the notice for motion, Chandy asked the Opposition not to create fear among the people over the report and said the State was committed to protecting the interest of farmers in the region and "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has supported the state's stand."

Chandy also brought to the notice of the House the Office Memorandum issued by the Centre on 20 December last which stated that Kasturirangan report would be finalised only after fixing the boundary of Ecologically Sensitive Areas in tune with the suggestions of stakeholders and states concerned.

However, LDF members accused both the Centre and state of cheating the people and said an 'unannounced eviction' threat loom large over the people in the hill region.

CPI-M politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also expressed reservations over the Supreme Court order yesterday for setting up a Regulatory Authority for Environment Impact Assessment clearance and said the order had virtually speeded up the suggestions in Kasturirangan report.

Chandy said government would examine the apex court order and take appropriate steps.

After Chandy's reply, Speaker G Karthikeyan disallowed notice for the motion moved by K K Jayachandran (CPI-M).

People in the hill region under the banner of High Range Protection Committee have been agitating ever since the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report came out as they fear that it would lead to large-scale displacement and badly affect their livelihood.

Meanwhile, people from the hill region took out a march to the secretariat in protest against the report.

PTI

BJP seeks UP governor’s help to remove all cases of Muzaffarnagar riots

Lucknow: Taking exception to UP government's proposed move to withdraw cases against Muslim leaders in Muzaffarnagar riots, BJP today asked Governor BL Joshi to press the government to withdraw all cases, including those lodged against its leaders, in connection with the violence.

Alleging that the government's move would disturb communal harmony in the state, the party submitted a memorandum to the Uttar Pradesh Governor, demanding his immediate intervention in the matter.

A file photo of the riots. AP

In its memorandum, BJP alleged that on the basis of reports lodged against 4,000 people in connection with the violence, police was "terrorising and financially harassing them" and the government was not concerned with that, BJP's chief spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

The delegation was led by state president Laxmi Kant Bajpai.

Demanding that the cases be withdrawn, Pathak pointed out that cases had been lodged against BJP MLAs Suresh Rana, Sangeet Som and a dozen others in similar sections (as lodged against Muslim leaders).

He said these cases should also be withdrawn. The BJP leader said the government was not clarifying why opinion of the law department and the District Magistrate was sought on these cases.

Riots in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas, which began in the last week of August last year, claimed over 60 lives and left thousands homeless. Several cases of inciting violence with inflammatory speeches have been lodged against religious and political leaders.

The party also alleged that the power tariff was highest in the state, but the UP Power Corporation Limited has once again started process to hike it.

It demanded that the government give a package of Rs 15,000 crore to UPPCL through the finance corporation.

PTI

Don’t make unneeded remarks or face explusion: Karunanidhi raps Alagiri

Chennai: Amid strains in DMK's first family over leadership squabbles, party chief M Karunanidhi today issued a veiled warning to his Madurai-based son MK Alagiri, saying those who went against party diktat would be expelled.

Miffed at Alagiri's reported remarks against DMK's possible tie-up with the Vijayakant-led DMDK for the Lok Sabha polls, Karunanidhi said he himself had as party "president," expressed joy over a possible alliance between the two.

There were reports that Alagiri had suggested against a DMK-DMDK tie-up and if these were true then "there is no connection between them and DMK," Karunanidhi said, seeking to distance himself from Alagiri's remarks.

It was upto the Executive and General Council or the "authorised high command" to decide on alliance prospects, he told reporters here.

PTI

Alagiri's remarks were in contrast to the statement made by him welcoming DMK-DMDK alliance, and this was "not only regrettable but also condemnable," Karunanidhi said.

"I make it clear that those who make such unnecessary contrasting remarks and thus try to affect party discipline, whoever they are, disciplinary action will be initiated against them and they will be expelled, even from party membership," he said, adding, this decision applied to all DMK members at all times.

Karunanidhi's warning comes a day after Alagiri's younger brother Stalin snubbed him at Tiruchirappalli, welcoming his party's alliance with DMDK besides quipping that he doesn't read such "unnecessary news items," when asked about Alagiri's reported views against any tie-up with Vijayakant's party.

Differences between Alagiri and Stalin are well-known with both sparring on the issue of who is the political heir apparent to Karunanidhi.

While the 90-year-old DMK chief had at times hinted that Stalin could well be his successor, Alagiri had challenged that, saying he would not accept anyone other than Karunanidhi as his leader.

The DMK chief alleged that a section of media were against a DMK-DMDK alliance. The tie-up, he claimed, would be in the interest of the welfare of the people of the state.

Such media organisations were trying to "divert" people away so that the alliance did not fructify, he said, adding, they were therefore carrying "mischievous" reports about the senior leaders of the respective parties.

Without naming anybody, he claimed some journalists were unable to digest his remarks that he would be happy if DMDK came forward for an alliance with his party and were therefore levelling a volley of criticism (against DMK).

DMDK emerged the principal opposition in the state assembly, edging DMK to the third place in the 2011 polls which it fought in alliance with AIADMK.

But the two parties turned bitter opponents later with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa regretting the tie-up.

PTI

Fundamentalist forces a threat to society: Digvijaya on Muzaffarnagar

Bhopal: Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh today said he was strongly against fundamentalist forces of all kinds as they are a threat to the society.

"I have always held the view that fundamentalist forces, whether they represent Hindus or Muslims, pose the same amount of threat to society," Singh told reporters during an informal chat.

Digvijaya Singh. PTI

The Congress leader said this when he was asked to comment on the arrest of two terrorists, who had links with LeT, from Mewat region of Madhya Pradesh recently.

On the Professional Exam Board (PEB) scam in Madhya Pradesh, he said the recent probe would yield no results unless the masterminds behind it were apprehended.

The state Congress unit had earlier alleged that the STF was going soft on former state minister Laxmikant Sharma on the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The scam relates to manipulation of selection process for government jobs for which exams were conducted by the MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

A Special Task Force (STF) of state police is carrying out investigations.

The STF has filed FIRs against 130 people including Sharma, who has been linked to irregularities in selection of teachers.

Digvijay also said he was not surprised at yoga guru Baba Ramdev and BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi sharing a common platform.

"All sort of people including those holding fake passports and degrees share the platform with Modi, who has no problem in touching their feet," he said.

Modi had recently attended an event organised by Ramdev, who had demanded abolition of all kinds of taxes and pitched for a single 'Banking Transaction Tax' if the BJP leader becomes Prime Minister.

PTI

Congress likely to reshuffle media team after 17 Jan AICC meet

New Delhi: Four to five new faces from the Hindi belt as well as some other states could be inducted as AICC spokespersons while the 36-member list of television panelists from Congress could witness a thorough rejig this month.

AFP

Sources said that the changes are planned to take place after the January 17 AICC meeting, which will be held amid a growing clamour in the party for projecting Rahul Gandhi as Congress' Prime Ministerial candidate.

The exercise is part of the Congress Vice President's plan to revamp the media strategy of the party ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls.

Two national workshops were organised a couple of months back by AICC at the national level to finetune Congress' media strategy and pick up talents from states for projecting the party better in television and print media and also augment the social media platform.

Similar workshops have been organised in various states, where the party has now put in place dedicated media teams as Congress plans to go to the polls highlighting the achievements of UPA in last ten years.

The party is also working on a strategy to hardsell its flagship schemes like food security, direct benefit transfer, new land bill, Lokpal Bill, RTI, MNREGA and other legislations aimed at social inclusiveness and fighting corruption.

In the recent days, Haryana Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mahila Congress chief Shobha Oza, television panelist Sanjay Jha and former spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi have addressed the official briefing of the party from the AICC podium leading to specualtion about their induction as the new spokespersons of AICC.

The two workshops of the party organised to bring in media talents from within Congress have also thrown up some names, who could find their inclusion in the new list of media panelists. The party has given indications of a larger role in its media strategy being played by Congress chief spokesperson from Bihar Premchand Mishra and MLA from Madhya Pradesh Mukesh Nayak.

The sources said that the issue of the reshuffle in the media team is still under discussion and the names have not been finalised as yet. The focus will be to find out bilingual spokespersons, who could speak both English and Hindi fluently and disseminate the party's viewpoint on various issues with clarity.

PTI

No, the AAP story is not a ‘triumph’ of India’s middle class

At a time when Westminster-style democracy is facing an existential crisis in its own backyard with more and more people, especially the middle class, opting out of mainstream politics in England, the apparent resurgence of political activism in India symbolised by the Aam Aadmi Party's plucky political debut is surely significant.

But sceptics with slightly longer memories of the Indian political scene than the television soundbite era allows may be forgiven for taking some of the post-AAP claims with a pinch of salt. To my mind, the most extraordinary of these is crediting the urban middle class with the "flowering" and "coming-of-age" of Indian democracy supposedly represented by AAP.

The fact is that the middle class is part of the problem because of which Indian politics reached such a pass that we needed a brand new party to re-energise it. The real heroes, on the other hand, are the millions of working class Indians who have kept the show going for 60 years by religiously turning up to vote at every election seeking change through the ballot box when the middle class, feigning 'alienation' stayed home.

AFP

It is a universal middle class trait to portray itself as an agent of progressive change, though in reality it is instinctively status-quoist, pushing for reform only when it suits its own interests.

In Britain, middle class "disengagement" from politics is this season's biggest story after some of the country's most high-profile middle class public figures, including the celebrity comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand, proudly confessed to not voting in elections because they find the choices "unappetising".

It has echoes of the Indian middle class's political behaviour historically marked by large-scale absenteeism at elections and an aversion to "dirtying" its hands. The middle class is also reluctant to rock the boat or push for any political or economic change whose consequences are not predictable. The comatose state of the Indian Left is an enduring illustration of the middle class voters' risk-averse approach.

So, the post-AAP wave of self-congratulation (metaphorical hi-fives, and "we-did-it") sweeping the middle class redoubts sits oddly with its role in propping up a reactionary political culture. There is only one issue on which the middle class has ever taken a stand: price rise.

That's the one safe platform on which any political party can hope to win enough middle class votes any day. Indira Gandhi famously bounced back into power in 1980 in what came to be known as "onion elections" fought on the agenda of containing the runaway rise in the price of onion. Again, in 1998, the Bharatiya Janata Party lost the Delhi elections to the Congress on the issue of onion prices.

So long as the middle class is assured of a decent wage, cheap onions, a semblance of social mobility and not-too-much corruption it is happy to keep its head down without worrying too much about larger issues such as the nature of polity or future of democracy. It is only when the normal rhythm of its daily life is threatened that it is jolted into action; and there is a scramble to jump on to the nearest passing bandwagon offering change.

At the risk of being a party-pooper, I would suggest that Delhi's middle class plumped for AAP not to revolutionise politics, but because the party's agenda happened to resonate with its own immediate concerns around corruption, price rise and transparency. Besides, some see AAP as a vehicle to launch their own political careers.

It is true that today the Indian middle class is much larger and more aspirational. Perhaps even more angry than before.

But whether it has finally decided to use its deep anger to change the face of Indian politics, as being claimed, remains debatable. There have been similar flashes in the pan before-- only for the middle class to revert to its default comfort zone after the event.

Jayaprakash Narayan's call for "Total Revolution" in 1974 against corruption, rising prices and social injustice brought large sections of the middle class –students, teachers, journalists, lawyers, rights activists—on to the streets in what remains perhaps the biggest show of people's power in independent India. In 1977, the middle class turned out to vote with its feet against Indira Gandhi to punish her for imposing the emergency.

That was the last time we saw middle class political activism on a notable scale—until Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign which then morphed into AAP.

It is being said that the younger generation of middle class professionals -- AAP 's backbone-- is different and genuinely yearning for change. Well, we shall see but, meanwhile, the breathless celebration of middle class political activism has a whiff of the way fickle-minded cricket fans react when Team-India pulls off a shock victory after a long lean season.

Barely weeks ago, the mood was so gloomy that it seemed Indian politics could go only one way—downhill. Suddenly, we are led to believe that India is on the cusp of a new dawn because a group of street fighters has won a local election in one corner of the country.

As I pointed out in these columns recently, the European experience of what has come to be known as the phenomenon of the political "lone-ranger" tells us not to get too excited. The public anger over the global economic crisis spawned nearly a dozen AAP-style parties across Europe, all making spectacular debuts only to end up as just one more mainstream entity.

Guess who their core supporters were?

In Amethi, AAP to fight Rahul Gandhi on development issues

Amethi: Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said despite being regarded as a VVIP constituency, Amethi is lagging far behind in the race of development and the party will contest the coming Lok Sabha elections from the seat on the issue of development.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

"Despite the constituency being represented by Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul Gandhi, farmers here have to face hardships in getting a sack of fertiliser, roads are in a bad shape, government tubewells are out of order and it is corruption all around," national spokesman of AAP Sanjay Singh said in Amethi.

He said that the people of Amethi were fed up with the dynasty politics and now want development.

"AAP is with the people, and their issues are our issues. We will contest the coming elections on the issues of people, that is development of Amethi," Singh said, adding that Kumar Vishwas (likely to be AAP's nominee from the seat) will address party's rally here on 12 January.

Singh was in Amethi to hold meeting with AAP workers with regard to the preparations for 12 January rally.

PTI

Live: LeT in Muzaffarnagar plot to vindicate Rahul, says Azam Khan

3.13 pm: LeT in Muzaffarnagar plot to vindicate Rahul, says Azam Khan

SP leader Azam Khan today alleged that the reports of LeT terrorists present in Muzaffarnagar was a plot to vindicate Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"This had to happen, we knew they would do everything to make their 'yuvraj's' statement true," Khan alleged.

2.51 pm: Cong, BJP fight over reports of LeT men in Muzaffarnagar

Amid reports that suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists had approached Muzaffarnagar riot victims to recruit men to their module, Congress today said it has proved right Rahul Gandhi's assertions that Pakistan's ISI was working to lure the riot-hit while BJP asked the government to explain facts of the "LeT operation".

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said the report has lent credence to Gandhi's remarks on riot victims at an election rally in October last, which had invited flak from opposition parties.

"If this information is correct that some people from LeT had gone to relief camps to lure refugees, then it proves right what Gandhi had said," Singh told reporters.

According to a media report, two Haryana clerics arrested last month for their suspected links to Lashkar-e-Toiba, and another LeT operative, had allegedly visited Muzaffarnagar relief camps and sought to recruit men to their module.

Targeting BJP, Union minister Manish Tewari said, "Those who believe in the politics of polarisation, who believe in the politics of communalism should become cognizant of the damage which they do to the idea of India".

However, BJP demanded that the home minister explain the "facts", terming the present situation as "unacceptable", "This shows how well-entrenched the network of LeT and other such outfits supported and funded by Pakistan are in UP... What action they have taken on their own. It is a national issue. Nobody is nabbed, nobody is traced. This is unacceptable," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Now the UP government and the Centre must answer, he said, adding the BJP had sought to know from the Centre as to what action it had taken on its own after Gandhi had spoken about it.

SP leader Naresh Agarwal said Muzaffarnagar had become a "political pawn" for many parties but added that he was not aware of the facts of the case.

Delhi Police should do what it should but let there be no politics over it, he said.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said such attempts by terror outfits was not a new thing.

"Pakistan's ISI and India's bhajpayees (BJP) rejoice whenever there is communal trouble in India. ISI wants money from Muslims countries in the name of helping Muslims of India. So they earn money. Whenever there is communal disturbance, BJP gets vote," he charged.

Both ISI and BJP are on the same page as far as creating communal trouble in this country is concerned, he alleged.

Though Rahul Gandhi's remark on Muzaffarnagar riot victims was criticised, it was a true statement, he said.

BJP President Rajnath Singh said the whole issue should be thoroughly probed with all the seriousness the matter deserves.

1:55 pm: Delhi Police says LeT didn't contact Muzaffarnagar riot victims

The Delhi Police says that they had registered a case after getting intelligence inputs and during the course of investigations had arrested two individuals.

He said that two individuals from Muzaffarnagar, identified as Zameer and Liyaqat, had met with the accused and had been told to carry out kidnappings in order to raise money to build a mosque.

"I want to clarify that Liyaqat and Zameer are not Muzaffarnagar riot victims. They live in the area but are not riot victims," SN Srivastava from the Delhi Special Cell said.

He said that the statements of the two youth had been recorded before the magistrate and said that he was not aware if the kidnapping and other crimes were planned to avenge the communal riots in some way.

1:15 pm: Manish Tewari says parties should introspect

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has said that parties propagating communalism should introspect in light of the revelations by the Delhi Police. He also took a moment to defend Rahul Gandhi.

"I don't think that whatever the honourable Congress vice president said needs any substantiation by any investigative agency. The fact is when you have a polarised environment, when you have a breakdown of communal harmony, forces which are inimical to India do try to fish in troubled waters," he said.

Unfortunately the core question remains over why Intelligence Bureau officials were briefing the Congress Vice President despite him holding no official position. Gandhi has chosen to dodge the topic completely after talking about it during election rallies and even the BJP seems restrained its

12:45 pm: Uttar Pradesh official says they weren't told anything

Times Now reports that the Uttar Pradesh police has already dismissed the claims by their Delhi counterparts and has said that there was no attempt made to recruit youth from the Muzaffarnagar relief camps.

12:00 pm: Samajwadi Party says they are willing to investigate Delhi Police claims

The Samajwadi Party says that the report if true shouldn't be politicised and says they will investigate any allegations that the Delhi Police forwards them.

"A criminal is a criminal. If there are criminals there then Delhi Police should take action, it should not be politicised," party MP and senior leader Naresh Aggarwal said.

"If the Delhi Police gives information to the UP government then we will definitely investigate the matter," he said.

How believable the Delhi Police's claims are, however, will only be known after a court of law hears the matter.

11:45 am: Give Rahul Gandhi credit, says Digvijaya Singh

Representational image. PTI

If Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is to be believed we need to be giving Rahul Gandhi credit for his skills on knowing what is happening in Muzaffarnagar.

"If it is true that the LeT has elements in the Muzaffarnagar relief camps and are recruiting and indoctrinating people, then it supports what Rahul Gandhi said weeks back. He should be given credit for his statement," Singh told reporters.

11:30 am: BJP says Central government should clarify

"This is a serious security lapse. The UP government and home ministry should clarify on this issue," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told ANI. 

Incidentally, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had mocked the Congress leader for his claim and said that the claim was one that was spread by an IPS official seeking a ticket from the party.

11:00 am: Delhi Police find Muzaffarnagar residents who verify Rahul Gandhi's claims

Nearly three months after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi courted controversy after claiming that Intelligence officers had told him about Pakistan's ISI trying to recruit angry Muslim youth from Muzaffarnagar, a group of men living in the riot-hit district's relief camps have reportedly told investigators that two imams had approached them to join a Lashkar-e-Toiba module.

The two clerics were arrested last month in Haryana. The men they approached reportedly turned witnesses and have given statements against them, according to The Indian Express.

The men, who recorded their statements in front of a magistrate in Patiala court in Delhi on Monday, are residents of relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.

"They are believed to have told investigators that the two imams from Mewat -- Hafeez Rashidi and Shahid -- allegedly made numerous visits along with a senior LeT operative, currently on the run," according to the report.

The men have reportedly told investigators that the clerics tried to radicalise them and were offered a good lifestyle and money for their families in return.

The two imams are reportedly linked to top Lashkar man Javed Baluchi.

The relief camps of Muzaffarnagar have remained a deeply politicised issue with the state government now standing accused of being unable not only to handle the growing humanitarian crisis in the camps where about 4,000 people still live but also of playing politics on which villages the victims would return to. Over 60 people were killed in the Muzaffarnagar riots that broke out in August last year.